Grigoryan
Son of Grigor, an Armenian given name derived from the Greek name Gregory, meaning "watchful" or "alert."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,262 Americans carry the last name Grigoryan. That puts it at #15,210 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.66 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 151,527 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Grigoryan surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.3K
1 in 151,527
Census rank
#15,210
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,937 bearers of the surname Grigoryan in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.66 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15210th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Grigoryan, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.2%) and Hispanic (0.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Grigoryan
The surname Grigoryan originates from Armenia and is derived from the Armenian given name Grigor, which is the Armenian equivalent of the name Gregory. The name has its roots in the Late Antique period, as early as the 4th century AD.
Grigoryan is a patronymic surname, meaning it was formed by adding the suffix "-yan" to the given name Grigor. This practice of forming surnames from given names was common in Armenia and other parts of the Caucasus region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Grigoryan can be found in the Armenian manuscript known as the "Matenadaran Collection," which dates back to the 9th century AD. The collection contains various historical chronicles and religious texts, including references to individuals with the surname Grigoryan.
In the 12th century, the Armenian historian Mkhitar Gosh mentioned a prominent figure named Grigor Grigoryan in his writings. Grigor Grigoryan was a renowned scholar and theologian who played a significant role in the intellectual and cultural life of medieval Armenia.
Throughout the centuries, the Grigoryan surname has been associated with numerous notable individuals. One of the most famous was Hovhannes Grigoryan (1711-1787), an Armenian poet and scholar who made significant contributions to the development of Armenian literature.
Another prominent figure was Arshak Grigoryan (1868-1927), a renowned Armenian painter and educator who helped establish the Academy of Fine Arts in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
In more recent times, Armen Grigoryan (1919-1993) was a celebrated Armenian composer and conductor who composed numerous works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and film scores.
It is worth noting that the Grigoryan surname has also been spelled in various ways throughout history, such as Grigorian, Gregorian, and Grigorev, reflecting the influence of different languages and cultural contexts.
While the Grigoryan surname is primarily associated with Armenia, it has also been adopted by Armenian diaspora communities worldwide, particularly in countries like Russia, Iran, and the United States, where significant Armenian populations have settled over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Grigoryan
Among Census respondents with the surname Grigoryan, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.2%) and Hispanic (0.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Grigoryan bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Grigoryan surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.0%
- Two or more races3.2%
- Hispanic or Latino0.6%
- Unknown or suppressed0.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Grigoryan surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #24,243 | #15,210 | 37.3% |
| Count | 969 | 1,937 | 99.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.36 | 0.66 | 83.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Grigoryan bearers went from 969 to 1,937 (+99.9% change). The surname moved up 9,033 positions in the national ranking, going from #24,243 to #15,210.
FAQ
Grigoryan surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Grigoryan?
The surname Grigoryan holds position #15,210 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,262 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.66 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Grigoryan surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Grigoryan, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.2%) and Hispanic (0.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.